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Part-time Art or Play Therapist

Haywood Grove School, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 7BG

25 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2025

• Closing date

  20 August 2025 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  3 July 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 3 days a week, Monday, Friday and one other day. Negotiable for a suitable candidate.
• Contract type: Fixed term - 1 year in the first instance
• Pay scale: Hay Scale 7, SCP 19-23

What skills and experience we're looking for

Are you passionate about helping children feel safe, seen, and soothed through creative expression?

We’re seeking a warm, relational and skilled Art Therapist or Play Therapist to join our trauma-informed school and support children with social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEMH) and/or learning difficulties.

What You’ll Do

• Provide individual and small-group therapy using art or play-based approaches
• Work closely with the leadership and safeguarding teams
• Contribute to multi-agency plans and EHCP outcomes
• Offer informal reflective guidance to staff around trauma, attachment, and regulation
• Help co-create a safe space for children to express, explore and build resilience

What the school offers its staff

What We Offer

• A nurturing, values-driven team
• Access to supervision and professional development
• Flexible working hours (negotiable days where possible)
• A chance to make a meaningful difference in a setting that understands the power of therapeutic relationship
• Well-being support packages

Flexible working opportunities

We try our best to work with staff in a flexible way so that their life balance is preserved.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

You Will Need

• A recognised qualification in Art Therapy or Play Therapy.
• Registration with HCPC (Art Therapy) or BAPT/PTUK.
• Experience working with children with SEMH, neurodivergence, or trauma histories.
• A commitment to relational practice, co-regulation, and play-based engagement.
• The ability to work collaboratively and reflectively within a school environment.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

Please complete the online application.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Haywood Grove School

• School type: Special school, ages 5 to 11
• School size: 60 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Haywood Grove School website
• Email address: head@haywood.herts.sch.uk
• Phone number: 01442 250077
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/haywood-grove-school

Are you a passionate, emotionally intelligent teacher with the courage to do things differently?

Do you believe that relationships are the foundation of learning?

Are you ready to work in a trauma-informed school where connection comes before correction?

At Haywood Grove we are looking for a committed Class Teacher to join our skilled and caring team. We are a primary special school for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Our children may have experienced significant adversity, and many are neurodivergent.

Why choose Haywood Grove?

We work with curiosity, co-regulation and compassion.

We combine high expectations with deep understanding of children's nervous systems and developmental needs.

We work relationally and reflectively, with a strong emphasis on team connection and wellbeing.

Arranging a visit to Haywood Grove School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email head@haywood.herts.sch.uk.

School location

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